Mobile/transportable PET radioisotope system with omnidirectional self-shielding

Abstract

A linear accelerator system for producing PET radioisotopes, and taking the form of a beam-generation-to-target structure which includes form-fitting, self-contained, omnidirectional radiation shielding structure.

1 . An elongate mobile, transportable, compact, defined-configuration system for PET radioisotope production, said system comprising 
 an ion-beam linear accelerator (linac structure) which is one part of said defined configuration,    a target zone which is another part of said defined configuration, operatively coupled to said linac structure and adapted to receive a target for illumination by an ion beam accelerated by said linac structure, and    generally defined-configuration-conforming, omnidirectional shielding structure forming a full radiation barrier shield around said linac structure and said target zone.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said linac structure includes an elongate, generally cylindrical-body, radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) having a long axis, and said shielding structure includes generally cylindrical wrap-around outside structure directly associated with said RFQ and wrapped around said long axis.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said linac structure includes an elongate, generally cylindrical-body drift tube linac (DTL) having a long axis, and said shielding structure includes generally cylindrical wrap-around outside structure directly associated with said DTL and wrapped around said long axis.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  which further comprises an elongate, slender, high-energy beam transport (HEBT) operatively interposed said linac structure and said target zone and having a long axis, and said shielding structure includes a wrap-around outside structure enveloping said HEBT and wrapped around said long axis.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said target zone is disposed adjacent one end of said linac structure, and said shielding structure includes a generally spherical bulb enveloping said target zone.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said bulb is shaped generally in the form of an icosihexahedron.  
   
   
       7 . A PET radioisotope production system having a lollipop form factor comprising 
 an elongate, slender linear accelerator (linac structure), and    a bulb-like target structure operatively disposed near, and functionally downstream relative to, one end of said linac structure.    
   
   
       8 . The system of claims  7  which further comprises an elongate, slender, high-energy beam transport (HEBT) operatively interposed said linac and target structures.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said target structure includes a plural-component, hinged assembly which can be opened and closed.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said target structure has a generally icosihexahedron outside configuration.  
   
   
       11 . A mobile, compact, transportable PET radioisotope production system mountable within a transport agency, comprising 
 an elongate, slender stem including linac structure, and    target bulb structure operatively disposed adjacent one end of said stem.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said stem further includes a high-energy beam transport (HEBT).  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  with respect to which the transport agency takes the form of one of (a) a land vehicle, (b) a water vehicle, and (c) an air vehicle.  
   
   
       14 . A mobile, compact and transportable PET radioisotope production system comprising 
 elongate linac structure having a discharge end, and including outside body structure which is formed as a first radiation-shielding substructure, and    target structure operatively disposed near said linac structure's said discharge end, and including outside body structure which is formed as a second radiation-shielding substructure,    wherein said first and second radiation-shielding substructures collectively form, effectively, an omnidirectional radiation self-shield for said system.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said linac structure includes (a) an elongate ion injector having a long axis and upstream and downstream ends, (b) an elongate, linear radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) having a long axis and upstream and downstream ends operatively coupled adjacent its upstream end co-axially to the downstream end of said ion injector, and (c) an elongate, linear drift tube linac (DTL) having a long axis and upstream and downstream ends operatively coupled adjacent its upstream end co-axially to the downstream end of said RFQ, and wherein, further, said first-mentioned radiation-shielding substructure is arranged to provide shielding around said RFQ and said DTL.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said second-mentioned radiation-shielding substructure is bulb-like in configuration.  
   
   
       17 . In a PET radioisotope production system, target structure comprising 
 a target zone, and    a generally bulb-like omnidirectional radiation shield substantially fully surrounding said zone.    
   
   
       18 . The structure set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said shield takes the form of a plural-component, hinged assembly which allows for selective exposing and concealing of said zone.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said shield has a somewhat spherical shape.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said shield has a generally icosihexahedron outside configuration.  
   
   
       21 . A PET radioisotope production system comprising 
 an accelerator having an upstream region and a downstream region, operable to accelerate an ion beam between its said upstream and downstream regions and for output delivery from said downstream region,    a target zone operatively coupled to said accelerator near and downstream from the latter's said downstream region, operable to present a target for impingement by such a delivered output beam, and    form-fitting radiation shielding structure effectively omnidirectionally shielding said accelerator and said target zone.    
   
   
       22 . A linac system for PET radioisotope production comprising beam-generation-to-target structure including form-fitting, self-contained, omnidirectional radiation shielding substructure.